In Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes’s new book about Hillary Clinton’s years at the U.S. State Department, HRC, the former secretary’s recent health troubles are mentioned:

At a follow-up examination later that month, doctors discovered that a blood clot had formed inside her skull, in a sinus cavity behind her ear. The clot could have killed her, or caused severe brain damage, if it had gone untreated. Hillary was immediately admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital. She was placed on blood thinners and remained at the hospital for several days, so doctors could keep an eye on her . . .

A few pages later:

The X factor [in a future presidential run] was Hillary’s health. Her concussion and the ensuing blood clot were no trifles. Friends who visited with her in the spring and summer of 2013 were struck by how relaxed she was but also how much older she looked after four years at State.

When people discuss the possibility of Hillary Clinton running for president in 2016, certain images come to mind, mostly images of her campaigning in 2007 and 2008. Here are some Facebook graphics from ReadyforHillary.com, an organization aiming to build grassroots support for a 2016 campaign:

Or the image on cover of HRC itself:

But her recent appearances indicate that the Hillary Clinton of 2016 won’t look like the Hillary Clinton of 2008; the aging mentioned by her friends is obvious:

An electorate that judges candidates, particularly female candidates, based upon appearances may not be fair, but it is reality and is likely to be a bigger deal because of those blood clots and genuine questions about the health of a woman who will be 69 on January 20, 2017.